Attachment for sewing-machines for producing felling, blindstitching, &amp;c.



No. 869.990. PATENTED NOV. 5, 1907.

' GLJ. STEVENS.

ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES FOR'PRODUGING FELLING,

BLINDSTITGHING, &c

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 16, 1902.

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No; 869,990. .PATENTED NOV. 5, 1907.

- G. J. STEVENS. ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MAGHINES FOR PRODUCING FBLLING,

BLINDSTITOHING, 8m.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 15, 1902.

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No. 869,990. PATENTED NOV. 5; 1907.

, G. J. STEVENS. ATTACHMENT .POR SEWING MACHINES FOR PRODUCING FELLING,

BLINDSTITCHING, 6m.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 1a, 1902.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

P i I'm; IIIH enrrnn s'rATns PATENT ent ies.

GEORGE JOHN STEVENS, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO AMERICAN ATTACHMENT COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 5, 1907.

Application filed May 15. 1902- Serial No. 107,436.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, GEORGE JOHN STEVENS, mechanical engineer, of 25 East Lake road, Loughborough Junction, London, S. W., England, have invented a certain new and useful Attachment for Sewing-Machines for Producing Felling or lllindstitching, Serging or Over-casting, Stoating or Overseaming, and Fancy and Ornamental Stitching and the Like; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact specification of the same.

The object of this present invention is to simplify the construction of such attachments; to reduce the expense of manufacture; to reduce the usual number of parts and to make the action of the parts more positive; to secure a direct connection of the operating lever to the needle-bar, and cause the same to be operated thereby in a smooth, easy and continuous manner, and without unnecessary and harmful vibrations; to properly time the movements of the pusher and its operating lever, so that while the pusher will be extended at the proper time to do its work that it will be retracted when and while the feed of the machine is feeding the work forward; to improve the construction of the pusher and its operating lever, and to improve and simplify the construction and operation of the parts by which the reciprocation of the pusher is effected. I accomplish this object by certain novel features of construction and operation which are fully described in this specification and shown in the drawings, the particular features of novelty constituting my invention being particularly pointed out in the claims annexed hereto.

In the drawings, which form a part of this specification and in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts wherever they occur:Figure 1, is a perspective view showing my improved attachment upon a sewing machine, with work properly folded for felling in place thereupon. Figs. 2, and 3, are side elevations of the attachment. Fig. 4, is a plan view of the same. Figs. 5, 6, and 7, are plan views of the interior of the attachment, the top plate, elbow-lever, draw lever and guide having been removed. Fig. 5, rhowing the parts in the position they are caused to assume when the pusher is extended, and Fig. 6 showing the same parts in the positions they are caused to assume when the pusher is retracted, and Fig. 7 showing the parts in the position they assume when the pusher is retracted and the plunger comes forward to turn the alternator to the right hand side of the attachment. Fig. 8 is an end view of the attachment, looking from the front toward the back. Fig. 9 is a plan view of the interior similar to Figs. 5, 6, and 7, showing the parts in the position they assume when the alternator has been turned toward the left hand side of the attachment and the plunger has been retracted. Fig. 10 is a partial detail sectional view of one end of the attachment showing the hood, draw-lever, plunger and pusher, and Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail view of the end of the draw-lever.

In this attachment, as in the attachment described in my application (Serial Number 77088) filed September 30th, 1901, I form the body in the form of a nearly closed box or case, out of three plates A, A A of thin steel,

the center of the middle plate being cut away somewhat (as is clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6) so as to receive and contain the pusher, an alternator, and the lever that operates the pusher etc. The plates A, A and A, are secured together by the screws (1, or in any other suitable manner. Upon the top plate A near the front side,

and to the back of the attachment I secure a standard B by means of the two screws 1), b, which pass through slots b 12 in a flange b formed upon the standard, and which engage in tapped holesin the plates A, A A The top of the standard is bent over forming a hooked end B to receive the angle of an elbow lever C, which is pivoted therein on the pivot pin 0. The horizontal arm of the elbow lever C is bent, inwardly if the setscrew cl holding the needle D in the needle-bar D is upon the inside, and outwardly if this set-screw d is upon the outside of the needle-bar so as to engage there with and is provided with a curved slot 0 in its outer extremity, in which the set-screw :1 works. A draw-lever E engages with the arm C of the elbow lever C, the end of the lever E being bent around so as to form a hooked end 6 in which is pivoted the arm C upon a pivot pin 0 The draw-lever E may be of any desired form. I

show it in the drawings as a flat bar, extending from theelbow-lever C to a point near the front of the attachment, where it is provided with a downwardly extending arm a which passes through a slot a formedin the top plate A and engages in an eye f formed in one end of the reciprocating plunger F, in the interior of the attachment. A hood G is attached to the top plate A by screws g 9 at one side of the slot a and projects over the top of the said slot a sufficient space being left however between the hood G and the top surface of the plate A upon the other side of the slot to permit of the deflects the said plunger first to the one side and then to the other side of the attachment, as the plunger F is reciprocated forward and backward by the arm 6 of the draw-lever E, which in turnis actuated by the setscrew (Z on the needle-bar D working in the slot 0 of the elbow lever O. The plunger F in its forward movements strikes the side arms h, W, of the alternator H alternately, causing the alternator to be turned from side to side of the attachment upon its pivot pin h'. I form an aperture H in the body of the alternator, and place therein a bow-spring if, one arm of which has a bearing against the left side wall of the said aperture, and the other arm of which has a bearing against a pin h, secured in the base-plate A, inside the aperture H so that this spring acts constantly to turn the alternator toward the right hand side of the attachment. The pin it also acts as a stop for the alternator preventing the same turning too far toward the right hand side. Upon the right han d side of the attachment is a catch arm I, pivoted ona pivot pin t' to the base-plate A. This catch arm I is acted upon by a bow-spring t placed between the said catch arm and the side wall of: the middle plate A, in such manner that it is constantly pressed toward the alternator. The catch arm I, is provided with a recess P, which is adapted to receive and retain the arm b of the alternator II, whenever the alternator is turned toward the left hand side of the attachment by the action of the plunger F upon the arm h? In order that the alternator may be released from the catch-arm I when it is to be turned to the right hand side of the attachment, I provide the said catch arm with a nose i which projects outwardly into the path of the plunger F. When. the said plunger therefore is deflected toward the right hand side of the attachment by the arm 7L it goes forward and first strikes the nose i and turns the catch arm I upon its pivot-pin i, releasing the arm h of the alternator from the recess 1?, then the plunger goes forward further and strikes the arm h turning the alternator H upon its pivot-pin h, toward the right hand side of the attachment, in which position it is held by the action of the bow-spring Z1 until the next forward movement of the plunger. I form a cavity J in the back end of the plate A behind the alternator, so that the arm h of the alternator, may swing freely therein, and I also form lugs or stops j, j, on the plate A one on either side of the alternator H, against which the two sides of the arm h of the said alternator may strike as the alternator is moved from side to side on its pivot pin it thus preventing too great a movement of the alternator in either direction.

A slot K is formed in the side of the attachment at a point opposite to the needle Dt when the attachment is secured in position upon the sewing machine), and in this slot I place the bifurcated end of my pusher L, which I construct by forming two thin L shaped steel plates and bending the forward L shaped end of each of them upwardly at approximately a right angle to the rest of the plate forming upward flanges. I then place the plates one upon an other leaving the two flanges separated a short distance apart and fasten them together by screws or rivets, or in any other desired manner, the bent portion or flange of the top plate forming the jaw Z, and the bent portion or flange of the bottom plate forming the jaw Z of the pusher. The pusher L, so constructed I pivotally secure to the base-plate A on the pivotpin Z the middle-plate A being cut away at this point states so that the pusher is free to oscillate upon the pivot pin Z In the body of the pusher I construct an aperture Z and I secure a pin Z in the base-plate A, which projects upwardly inside of the aperture Z, on the left hand side thereof, and a bow-spring Z is inserted in the said aperture, one side of the said bow-spring having a bearing against the right hand side wall of the aperture Z while the other side of the said bow-spring has a bearing against the pin Z so that the said spring Z constantly acts upon the pusher L to retract it in the slot K in the side of the attachment. The pin Z also acts as a stop, the left hand side wall of the aperture Z abutting against it as the pusher is retracted by the spring Z and prevents too great an inward motion of the pusher. The leit hand, or outer side of the pusher L is cut away somewhat, so that this side of the pusher will not project too far beyond the side of the attachment when the pusher is in its extended position.

The forward end of the plunger F (the end opposite to the draw-lever E) is free, and is rounded so that it will move easily and smoothly, along the sides of the alternator H as it is extended to do its work When the pusher L is retracted in the slot K, the arm 71 of the alternator H is turned toward the right hand side of the attachment, and at the next down-stroke of the needlebar D, the draw-lever E will bring the plunger F forward, its free end striking the left side of the arm h which deflects it toward the left hand side of the attachment. As this is done the leftside of the plunger F bearing against the right side of the pusher L, presses the pusher outwardly, and as the plunger F continues its forward stroke, extends the bifurcated end, or jaws Z, Z, out of the slot K, pushing the cloth away from the needle as hereinafter more fully explained. In order that the plunger F shall always be in position to do its work properly, I place a rectifying sprin M, upon one side of the plunger, while on the other side the plunger has a bearing against the side ofthe pusher, and as the said plunger at all times works between these two parts side of the plunger F (the side that bears against the pusher L) giving it the proper shape to extend the pusher,

as the plunger F passes up the left side of the arm h, at the precise moment it is required to act, and, as when the pusher is extended it should remain in its extended. position until the needle passes down to make a stitch with the shuttle thread and again passes up out of the way of the cloth being stitched, I form a portion of the left side of the alternator in substantially the arc of a circle,

hand side of the alternator H, when it is again extended. The plunger L makes its forward movement at each down-stroke oi the needle-bar D, acting alternately first upon one side and then the other side of the alternator H, being thus deflected or alternated by the arm h of the alternator, which projects into the path of the plunger causing the latter to be deflected as above described, as the alternator is turned from side to side upon its pivot pin. When the alternator H is turned toward the left side of the attachment so that the pusher is extended it is held in this position until the next forward stroke of the plunger F, by the catch-arm I, this catch-arm being required in order to hold the pusher and alternator in position against the back pressure of the cloth being stitched. When the alternator is turned toward the right hand side of the attachment it is held in this position until the next forward stroke of the plunger 1" by the action of the bow-spring 'lr".

Slots 0, 0 are formed in the body of the attachment, which is adjustably held inposition upon the base-plate of the sewing machine by a set-screw 0 As the throat-plate of the machine is usually somewhat higher than the base-plate, I provide an adjusting screw 0 ,at the opposite side of the attachment, which passes entirely through the plates A, A A engaging in a tapped hole formed therein, and has a bearing against the base-plate of the machine. By turning the adjust ing screw 0 the one way or the other the attachment may be leveled and kept in a position to do its work properly. When the attachment is placed upon the machine it should be adjusted so that when the pusher L is extended one jaw l will pass upon one side, and the other jaw Z upon the other side of the needle D when the latter is making its down-stroke, and so that the jaws Z, 1, will push the cloth being stitched just clear of the needle.

In order to guide the cloth to be stitched to the needle I provide a suitable guide which is constructed as follows. A small plate P, extending along the front of the attachment, is secured to the top plate A by two screws p, p which pass through two slots p 19 formed in the plate P and engage in tapped holes (not shown) formed in the plate A-, the plate P being free to move along the top plate A in either direction, being held against displacement by the heads of the screws p, p. The plate P is provided with two lugs P P. To the lug P is attached by a screw or rivet p a guide plate P which passes down by the front side of the attachment and is bent around at a right angle and extends along the left side of the attachment to a point near the slot K. The

guide plate P may be moved upwardly or downwardly upon the screw or rivet A bracket-piece R secured to the side of the attachment has an outwardly projecting end which is bifurcated forming jaws 1' T The lug P- of the plate P has a screw-threaded central aperture p in which engages the screw end 5 of an adjusting screw S, having a milled-head s by which it may be turned, and being provided with a circumferential groove or channel 8 in its head, which receives and contains the jaws r r which pass upon either side of the said set screw. As the adjusting screw S is turned by its milled head s it is held by the jaws 1', T and its screw-threaded end working in the lug P moves the plate P and consequently the guide-plate P toward or away from the needle D as the setscrew S is turned the one way or the other and consequently the guideaway from the needle, whereby a zig-zag line of stitchesis produced.

In felling or blind-stitching (see Fig. 1) a hem l is first folded, then the part 2 is folded back over the hem 1, and is fed to the needle with the fold 3 uppermost, and the single layer 4 underneath. If the pusher L is retracted at the first stitch, the guide plate P being properly adjusted, the needle D will pass down through I the center of the cloth in the fold 3, and through the single layer 4, and form the first stitch. At the next stitch the pusher L is extended, pushing the cloth clear of the needle, so that the second stitch is made on the outside of the cloth, this cycle of operations being repeated throughout the stitching. This method of stitching not only results in a true blindstitching being produced, but the raw edge of the single layer 4 is also overcast preventing raveling.

In serging the cloth is fed flat, a zig-zag line of stitches being formed along the edge of the cloth, overcasting it and preventing raveling.

In stoating the two pieces of cloth are laid one upon another and are fed flat, a line of zig-zag stitches being produced along the edge. When stitched and opened out, the two pieces of cloth will be securely stitched together, the seam being perfectly flat.

By suitably regulating the tensions and length of stitches a great variety of fancy and ornamental work, cordings, plaitings, pipings, etc., etc., may be produced.

It should be observed that while I employ a spring as an independent means for retracting the pusher in order to properly time its action, that in case of the breakage of the bow-spring Z the pusher will be positively actuated by the plunger F the rear end of which will, as it is brought back by the draw-lever E, retract the pusher.

The functionof the curve N on the alternator is to cause a dwell in the movement of the pusher. That is when the pusher moves out the end of the plunger moving on the curved edge of the alternator will simply slide along the same without having any further advancing effect thereon and the pusher will be held out in one position while the plunger is passing over this curved part. It will be noticed that the parts are arranged so that the plunger as it retracts will with its heel turn the oscillating pusher so as to retract its forked end. In case the-spring fails the plunger will thus act positively to retract the pusher.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an attachment for sewing machines, an oscillating pusher, means for operating the pusher from the needle bar to advance said pusher, and means operating inde pendent of the needle bar and its connections for retracting the pusher when the pusher has completed its work and each time the feed of the cloth is to take place.

2. In an attachment for sewing machines, an oscillating pusher, means for operating the same from the needle-bar of the machine, said means having a back and forth movement throughout, and independent means for retracting the said pusher when its work is completed said pusher be ing retracted each time the feed of the cloth takes place.

3. In a sewing machine attachment, an oscillating pusher, a sliding plunger engaging with and acting upon the pusher tov extend it at every alternate stitch, and independent means for retracting the said pusher as soon as it has completed its work, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a sewing machine attachment, an oscillating pusher, means for operating the pusher from the needlebar of the machine so that it will be extended at every alternate stitch, and independent means for retracting the pusher so that it will remain extended only when and while it is doing its work, said pusher being retracted when the feed of the cloth takes place, substantially as described.

5. In a sewing machine attachment, a pusher, a sliding plunger having a cam surface engaging with and extend ing the pusher at every alternate stitch, means for operating the plunger from and in synchronism with the needlehar of the machine, and independent means for retracting the pusher.

(3, In an attachment for sewing machines, a pusher having back and forth movements and means for moving the same out and in synchronously with a reciprocation of the needle bar, said pusher being retracted immediately its work is done and while the feed of the cloth is taking place, said means including connections to the needle bar, substantially as described.

7. In a sewing machine attachment, a pusher, a sliding oscillatory plunger provided with a cam surface engaging with and actuating the pusher, an alternator controlling the movements of the plunger, and means for actuating the plunger from the needlebar of the machine.

8. In combination, a pusher, a plunger acting thereupon directly and means for operating the plunger synchronously from the needle bar and means for rendering one stroke of the plunger ineffective upon the pusher, substantially as described.

In a sewing machine attachment an oscillating pusher, a plunger having a cam surface engaging with and I actuating tho pusher, means for actuating the plunger at every down stroke of the needle-bar, and for causing the plunger toextend the pusher on alternate strokes of the plunger.

10. A sewing machine attachment having an oscillating pusher, a plunger engaging With and actuating the pusher, an alternator controlling the movements of the plunger, stops limiting the movements of the alternator, and means for actuating the plunger from the needle-bar of the machine.

11.. A sewing machine attachment, having an oscillating pusher, a plunger engaging with and directly actuating the pusher, an oscillating alternator controlling the move mcntsof the plunger, a catch arm engaging with and holding the alternator during the extension of the pusher, and means for operating the plunger from the needle-bar of the machine.

12. In a sewing machine attachment, a pusher formed in two parts, superimposed and one extending beyond the other each of said parts having a vertical portion which forms one of the jaws of the pusher.

13. In a sewing machine attachment, a pusher formed in two parts, superimposed and one extending beyond the other each of the said parts having a vertical portion which forms one of the jaws of the pusher, the said two parts being suitably secured together, so that the said vertical portions shall be separated a sufiicient distance so that they will pass, one on either side of the needle when the pusher is extended.

l-Ll. In combination an oscillating pusher, a plunger engaging with and operating the pusher, a spring engaging with the plunger to hold the same to its work, an alternator controlling the movements 01' the plunger, and means for operating the plunger from the needle-bar of the machine.

15. In combination an oscillating pusher, a spring, a plunger working between the pusher and the spring, an voscillating alternator controlling the movements of the plunger and causing the plunger to extend the pusher at every alternate down-stroke of the needle-bar, and means for operating the plunger from the needle-bar.

1G.I n a sewing machine attachment, a pusher, a

plunger, an oscillating alternator pivotally securedto the base-plate of the attachment, and stops limiting the move ment of the alternator in either direction said parts controlling the movement of each other and one of said parts acting upon the pusher.

17. In a sewing machine attachment, a pusher, a plunger, an oscillating alternator pivotally secured to the base-plate, stops limiting the movement of the alternator in either direction, a spring holding the alternator in one of its two positions, and a catch arm for holding the alternator in the other of its said positions said parts con trolling the movement of each other and one of said parts acting upon the pusher.

18. In combination an oscillating pusher, a plunger engaging with and operating the pusher, an alternator controlling the movements of the plunger, the said alternator having a portion of one of its sides formed in the arc of a circle, and means for operating the plunger from the needle-bar of the machine.

19. In combination, a pusher, a plunger, and an oscillating alternator in the path of the plunger and arranged independent of the pusher, said plunger operating the pusher, said alternator being operated by the plunger substantially as described.

20. In combination a pivoted oscillating pusher, a plunger, a pivoted oscillating alternator, the said alter: nator having an arm which projects into the path of the plunger and deflects the plunger so that it engages alter nately with the two sides of the alternator and extends the pusher at every alternate down-stroke of the needlebar.

21. In combination a pivoted oscillating pusher, a plunger, a pivoted oscillating alternator, the said alternator having an arm which projects'into the path of the plunger and deflects the plunger so that it engages alternately with the two sides of the alternator and extends the pusher at every alternate down stroke of the needlebar and independent means for retracting the pusher.

22. In a sewing machine attachment a pusher, a plunger, means for actuating the plunger an oscillating alternator pivoted to the base-plate of the attachment and adapted to control the movements of the plungerstops limiting the movement of the alternator -in either direction, a spring constantly acting upon the alter-nator in one direction, and a catclrarm pivoted at the side of the alternator and locking the alternator in place while the pusher is extended. v

23. In combination, the pusher and connections between the same and the needle bar including the lever C and the draw rod E and a hood G extending over the top of the draw rod and serving to retain the same in place, substantially as described.

24. In combination, a pusher, a reciprocating oscillatory plunger acting directly against the same and an alternator for controlling the oscillatory movements of the plunger and locking means for the alternator, substantially as described.

25. In combination, a pusher, areciprocating oscillatory plunger acting directly against the same and an alternator for controlling the oscillatory movements of the plunger, and locking means for the alternator, said locking means being controlled by contact with the plunger, substantially as described.

26. In combination, the needle bar, a pusher having a back and forth movement, a plunger for operating the pusher, means for operating the plunger from the needle bar and an alternator for controlling the movements of the plunger, said alternator having a curved bearing for the plunger whereby a dwell will occur in the advancing effect of the plunger on the pusher, substantially as described.

27. In combination with a pusher, a plunger and an alternator, one of said parts being arranged to operate 1 and means for retracting the pusher as the plunger re- 10 the pusher and the said alternator having a curved surtracts, substantially as described.

face over which the plunger may continue to slide Without In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in altering the position of the pusher, substantially as depresence of two witnesses.

scribed. GEORGE JOHN STEVENS.

28. In combination, a pusher, a needle bar, a. plunger connected with the needle bar for operating the pusher Witnesses:

directly, said plunger advancing the pusher as the needle W. M. HARRIS,

bar descends and being retracted as the needle bar rises, .TosEPit LAKE. 

